Martial arts and futons: how the Japanese police confront violence

Japan has virtually eradicated gun crime. The biggest contributors to low levels of gun violence are the police, who prefer to rely on their skills in martial arts - and futons than reach for a gun.

"The first instinct is not to reach for a gun - what most Japanese police will do is to get huge futons and essentially roll up the person who is being violent or drunk into a little burrito and carry them back to the station and calm them down. The response to violence is never violence - it is to de-escalate." Anthony Berteaux, journalist and activist

Photo: Japanese police prepare for a demonstration Credit: Getty Images